Round 3 of the 2022 AFL season ended with the classic Western Derby, which saw Fremantle and West Coast battle head to head at Optus Stadium.
In the 54th instalment of the derby, both teams were looking to redeem themselves after disappointing Round 2 losses to St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively.
A tight first quarter saw just an eight-point margin go the way of Fremantle, before pulling ahead to a half-time lead of 42-8, with West Coast going goalless in the second half.
After a hot start to the third quarter for West Coast, the Dockers were able to wrestle the momentum back, scoring the next three goals, and leading by 36 heading into the final term.
Fremantle then put the icing on the cake, kicking six goals to three in the final term to win 102-47 in comprehensive fashion.
West Coast veteran Shannon Hurn was the best on ground for the hosts, with 27 disposals and 12 marks, but it wasn’t enough to stop the powerful Dockers, with Taberner kicking three goals, and Brayshaw with 26 disposals.
The painful start to 2022 for West Coast continued, with numerous injuries and many players out due to COVID-19 protocols.
Fremantle’s 55-point win was their third-largest winning margin in a derby, and West Coast’s (7.5) 47 was their lowest-ever Derby score. The win boosted the Dockers into fifth place on the ladder, while West Coast fell to 17th.
Round 4 kicks off on Thursday night with Port Adelaide taking on the Demons.
WCE
Roar Rookie
After 25 years it's a long track Freo are on to nothing but mediocrity Freo the best? Laughable Suns will win a flag before Freo will. Some teams success never comes Freo are that team. No heart no soul no flag.
ScottD
Roar Guru
WCE had more AFL experience on the field than Dockers did
ScottD
Roar Guru
Leave our Pav alone you big bully :0
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yeah, the Eagles team that was fielded had more AFL experience than the Dockers team that beat them so I do think some of the covid/injury excuses need to be questioned. There's no doubt it is a contributing factor but there is more here than Eagles are letting on.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I think he meant the best young team
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I think we will mate, our best side is now better than yours.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Well done Freo lots of positive signs for your boys lots of potential in your team did what you needed and flogged us boys. Still think you're far from a flag threat but way better than us will be for quite some time too. Still need a key forward I feel and if you get a gun or develop one on your list you will be dangerous and a threat until then I feel it will be the same old Freo. But kudos you will smashing us for a few years to come ????
BBQ Bill
Guest
Yeh...nah. Not if their best team is on the park.
Graeme
Guest
The best Don? I thought the Eagles played Freo. Seriously they are not the best yet, but are certainly on track.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Good win, hard to read to much into it considering all their outs, but you have to beat what is in front of you and we did so pretty convincingly, and we had a fair few outs ourselves (though not quite in the same league as what the Coasters had missing) Didn’t get quite the same buzz out of it as winning the derby last year, but it’s a derby win all the same. Hopefully we see two full strength sides later in the year and we win that one too.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They can still make the 8. They came up against the youngest team in the AFL today but, it just happened to be the best.
Rob Moyle
Guest
Never expected a win but Pav will guaranteed be a useless commentator. Get some cadence in your speech and while you're at it, some non-bias commentary.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I understand the club has been decimated by injuries and Covid. I went to the game today, not expecting a win but Freo didn't play well so, in my view, we were flattered by the final score. Poor players today were - Naish, Nelson, Langdon, Petrevski-Seton, Harry Edwards, West and Dixon. Really, Naish and Nelson should be shown the door as quickly as possible, Dixon and Harry Edwards are not AFL standard and the others haven't convinced me they can be.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Let us have a few players back and back from Covid
Holdingtheball
Roar Rookie
When will WC win their first game. Maybe round 15?